Wu Szu-huai's Perspective: Is Chiang Wan-an's Son Being Attacked Because of Political Family Background?

In late August, Chiang Te-li, son of Taipei Mayor Chiang Wan-an, was accepted and selected for the Taipei City Government Education Bureau's international exchange student program. Following this announcement, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), the Qingniao movement, and affiliated groups launched an extensive campaign of criticism. Subsequently, the National Academy for Educational Research, the Anti-Corruption Agency, and even the Control Yuan dispatched special investigators to examine the case. Observing recent media coverage and online discourse, I feel that Taiwan's once-gentle social ethos has been thoroughly eroded by political forces.

My second granddaughter is the same age as Chiang Te-li and is preparing to enter high school. Attempting to view this incident through the eyes of young people, I present the following narrative in the first person.

I am Chiang Te-li, 16 years old this year. I graduated from the junior high division of National Taiwan Normal University Affiliated Secondary School and was admitted to Jian Guo High School. I applied for the Taipei City Government Education Bureau's 'International Exchange Student Learning Program' and was selected as an international exchange student. Unexpectedly, because of this, my father has been accused of abusing privilege and failing to avoid conflicts of interest, which makes me deeply saddened. I don't understand how the adult world works. Why must elections involve indiscriminate attacks, distortions of truth, and online harassment targeting children?

During my time at the junior high division of NTNU Affiliated School, I studied diligently, excelled in scouting activities, and maintained outstanding academic performance. My results in this year's Basic Competency Test for Junior High School Students were excellent, enabling me to gain admission to Jian Guo High School smoothly. These efforts and achievements have nothing to do with my father's official position.

After enrolling at Jian Guo High School, I applied for a leave of absence to prepare for a one-year exchange student experience in the United States. This was entirely my own decision—I hope to explore my personal interests, gain diverse life experiences, and broaden my international horizons. My parents respect my choice and fully support this decision.

Now, let me speak about my father, Chiang Wan-an. He graduated from Jian Guo High School and earned dual degrees in diplomacy and law from National Chengchi University. In 2004, he obtained a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the University of Pennsylvania in the United States. In 2006, he earned a Doctor of Juridical Science (J.D.) from the same university. In 2007, he became a licensed attorney in California and worked as a corporate lawyer. From stories I've heard since childhood, my father worked extremely hard from his studies through his career, facing many difficulties. He never received any advantages or privileges due to his status or family background.

Our family returned to Taiwan and settled here in 2013. My father was elected as a legislator in 2016 and re-elected in 2020. In 2022, he was elected Mayor of Taipei City, serving to the present day. Over the past decade, my father has been overwhelmed with work, spending very little time with us. I feel heartbroken seeing him endure these baseless smears, yet I am powerless to help.

I want to ask adults: Must elections resort to such malicious tactics? In our school, when electing class leaders or club presidents, candidates simply present their strengths, vision, and proposed services, and classmates vote freely. If school elections adopted the same methods as adult politics—digging up three generations of family history, spreading false negative information, and humiliating not only individuals but also their parents and children—what kind of environment would we grow up in? What would become of our society and nation in the future?

Has Taiwan's original humanistic foundation and warm social atmosphere completely disappeared?

Does being a child of a political figure now seem like a 'sin'? Election debates should focus on the mayor and their policies. Targeting a minor child in political battles—is this humane? If this distorted trend continues, will children of civil servants or public officials be barred from receiving education in their home counties or cities? Will all educational institutions begin avoiding them out of fear?

*The author is a retired lieutenant general and former legislator.